Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and other issues.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left ankle fracture, finding that the condition started during service and is related to it.

The Board has determined that a new examination and etiological opinion is needed for the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left ankle disability due to the lack of adequate rationale in the previous examiner's opinion. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, left ankle disability, and right knee disability are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection for a back disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to non-compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's low back, bilateral leg, and bilateral ankle conditions are still under review.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance/housebound status is remanded due to insufficient explanation of functional impairments attributable solely to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran also has a nonservice-connected condition (Parkinson's disease) that affects his ability to perform daily activities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the need for new and material evidence regarding his psychiatric disorder, as well as for VA examinations to assess his bilateral knee disabilities, sciatic nerve disabilities, and low back disability.,VA has also been instructed to schedule the Veteran for an examination to confirm any current ankle disabilities and provide opinions on their etiology.

The Board denied reopening and service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury, right leg injury, and left leg injury due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted reopening of the claims for service connection for left ankle disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, back disorder, and right hip disorder. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Veteran's right ankle strain with degenerative changes did not result in dorsiflexion of less than 15 degrees or plantar flexion of less than 30 degrees, nor did it cause incapacitating exacerbations. As a result, his claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a spine disability, right ankle disability, and left knee disability due to new evidence received since the last final denial.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ankle, left ankle, right knee, left knee, and back disabilities due to insufficient reasons and bases in the May 2021 decision. The issues are being remanded for further development as stipulated in the Joint Motion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's claims are not currently decided on their merits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been granted for bilateral pes planus with plantar wart/callosities residuals and left ankle condition. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral leg condition, left hip condition, and bilateral foot condition (other than pes planus) are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle traumatic arthritis and right femur lytic lesion need further examination to determine their current severity and etiology. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disability, left ankle disability, and left knee disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various joint disabilities associated with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome have been denied. The RO has granted additional service connection and assigned new ratings, but the Veteran is not entitled to higher ratings under current regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his inability to attend scheduled VA examinations. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral gastrochnemius strain, right knee strain, and left ankle strain. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are supported by medical records, including VA examination reports.,The Board found that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's claimed disabilities began during active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is denied. The Board finds no current disability associated with the right knee, either by diagnosis or showing of functional impairment. Service connection for bilateral ankle disorders is remanded as there are no VA examinations assessing these conditions.